Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Available: 12/2/2010
Reading Level: Young Adult
5 out of 5 Stars
Description from Goodreads:
Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris — until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.
But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt
My thoughts:
Anna’s parents decide she should attend a boarding school in Paris. This sounds like a dream come true to most teenage girls, but Anna is bummed about missing senior year with her friends back in Atlanta. There is also the stress of being the new kid at a school where friendships have had 3 years to form. She quickly becomes friends with a group of teens that includes the dreamy St. Clair. Anna is falling hard, but not only does St. Clair have a college girlfriend, but their mutual friend has the hots for him bad. What’s a girl to do?
A boarding school book set in Paris! Yippee! I love Paris, and was totally enthralled with the author’s description of the sights and sounds. I’ve had the opportunity to visit the City of Light twice, and now I’m longing for a third vacation to the romantic city. I felt that deviating from the typical east coast setting helps this one to stand out among the others. Once you start reading you just fall in love with the world and characters the author has created. The tension between Anna and St. Clair grows to monstrous proportion. So all you sexual tension fiends are going to eat this one up with a spoon. St. Clair whose first name is actually Étienne (isn’t that the dreamiest name ever!) is such a great love interest, but some readers might find his wishy washiness frustrating. I thought it made for good book. Did I mention he has a British accent? Those who know me are aware of my love of cuties with accents.
British Accent + A Sexy French Name = Love Interest Perfection!
There is some angst. Anna gets a little emotional at times. Mood swings ensue, but I thought the author was keeping it real. I always wished I was one of those girls who didn’t get weepy and emotional, but alas I am that girl. I related to Anna even though I’m no longer a teen. Please keep the not being a teen part between us ;) I enjoyed seeing Paris through her eyes, and witnessing her coinciding fall into love with an unavailable boy.
Favorite part besides boys with accents? The food! The author goes into such detail about all the delicious foods lucky Anna gets to indulge in. I think I gained 10 pounds while reading. Yummy food, a beautiful city, and cute boys! Sounds like a win to me :)
The writing in this book is top notch. The pacing is perfect. The characters are well developed. I can’t rave enough about this one. 2010 is the year of amazing debut authors. I hope to see many more books from Stephanie Perkins in the future.
My only complaint is the cover. Where is Anna’s bleached streak and the gap between her front teeth? I loved those two little details about her. The cover model doesn’t fit my image of Anna at all, but the book is still freaking amazing.
Stephanie Perkins on the web:
Source: Around the World Tours
i really want to read this!! i'm so glad to hear it's awesome!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for December!
ReplyDeleteYou're so lucky to have gotten hold of an ARC of this one. I can't wait to read it. I am simply obsessed with Paris and this book sounds wonderful!! Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteParis, food, angst, and boys with accents? SIGN ME UP! Awesome review.
ReplyDelete